Mobile computer configured to select wireless communication network

Abstract

A mobile computer can comprise a processor, a memory, and a wireless communication interface. The mobile computer can be configured to periodically monitor one or more network metrics of the currently connected wireless network. In order to maintain an uninterrupted data connection, the mobile computer can be further configured, responsive to determining that at least one pre-defined Quality of Service (QoS) metric of the currently connected network averaged over a pre-defined time period falls outside of an allowable range or at least one pre-defined Quality of Service (QoS) metric of the currently connected network has been outside of an allowable range for at least a pre-defined time period, to select a new wireless network of a plurality of available wireless networks based on at least one network selection criterion and connect to the new wireless network.

1 . A mobile computer comprising:
 a processor;   a memory;   a wireless communication interface;   wherein said mobile computer is configured to periodically monitor one or more network metrics of a currently connected wireless network;   wherein, in order to maintain an uninterrupted data connection, said mobile computer is configured, responsive to determining that at least one pre-defined Quality of Service (QoS) metric of a current network averaged over a pre-defined time period falls outside of an allowable range of QoS values, to select a new wireless network of a plurality of available wireless networks based on at least one network selection criterion; and   wherein said mobile computer is further configured to connect to said new wireless network.   
     
     
         2 . The mobile computer of  claim 1 , wherein said wireless communication interface is configured to support two or more wireless communication protocols. 
     
     
         3 . The mobile computer of  claim 1 , wherein said allowable range of QoS values is provided by one of: a pre-defined range and a dynamically adjustable range. 
     
     
         4 . The mobile computer of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one connector configured to receive a subscriber identity module (SIM) card. 
     
     
         5 . The mobile computer of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one QoS metric is provided by at least one of: received signal strength, frame loss ratio, and frame round-trip time. 
     
     
         6 . The mobile computer of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one network selection criterion comprises one or more identifiers of wireless networks which said mobile computer is allowed to access. 
     
     
         7 . The mobile computer of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one network selection criterion comprises one or more identifiers of wireless networks which said mobile computer is forbidden to access. 
     
     
         8 . The mobile computer of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one network selection criterion comprises at least one preferred wireless technology. 
     
     
         9 . The mobile computer of  claim 1 , further configured, responsive to selecting said new wireless network, to load into said memory at least one software module configured to perform one or more functions of said wireless communication interface. 
     
     
         10 . The mobile computer of  claim 1 , further comprising an EIR device selected from the group consisting of: a bar code reading device, an RFID reading device, and a card reading device;
 wherein said EIR device is configured to perform at least one of: outputting raw message data containing an encoded message and outputting decoded message data corresponding to said encoded message.   
     
     
         11 . A mobile computer comprising:
 a processor;   a memory;   a wireless communication interface;   wherein said mobile computer is configured to periodically monitor one or more network metrics of a currently connected wireless network;   wherein, in order to maintain an uninterrupted data connection, said mobile computer is configured, responsive to determining that at least one pre-defined Quality of Service (QoS) metric of a current network averaged over a pre-defined time period falls outside of an allowable range of QoS values, to select a new wireless network of a plurality of available wireless networks based on at least one network selection criterion; and   wherein said mobile computer is further configured to connect to said new wireless network.   
     
     
         12 . The mobile computer of  claim 11 , wherein said wireless communication interface is configured to support two or more wireless communication protocols. 
     
     
         13 . The mobile computer of  claim 11 , wherein said allowable range of QoS values is provided by one of: a pre-defined range and a dynamically adjustable range. 
     
     
         14 . The mobile computer of  claim 11 , further comprising at least one connector configured to receive a subscriber identity module (SIM) card. 
     
     
         15 . The mobile computer of  claim 11 , wherein said at least one QoS metric is provided by at least one of: received signal strength, frame loss ratio, and frame round-trip time. 
     
     
         16 . The mobile computer of  claim 11 , wherein said at least one network selection criterion comprises one or more identifiers of wireless networks which said mobile computer is allowed to access. 
     
     
         17 . The mobile computer of  claim 11 , wherein said at least one network selection criterion comprises one or more identifiers of wireless networks which said mobile computer is forbidden to access. 
     
     
         18 . The mobile computer of  claim 11 , wherein said at least one network selection criterion comprises at least one preferred wireless technology. 
     
     
         19 . The mobile computer of  claim 11 , further configured, responsive to selecting said new wireless network, to load into said memory at least one software module configured to perform one or more functions of said wireless communication interface. 
     
     
         20 . The mobile computer of  claim 11 , further comprising an EIR device selected from the group consisting of: a bar code reading device, an RFID reading device, and a card reading device;
 wherein said EIR device is configured to perform at least one of: outputting raw message data containing an encoded message and outputting decoded message data corresponding to said encoded message.